Wolves' former Championship-winning striker without at club at 35 and 'truly gutted' after being released

A member of Wolves’ 2008/09 Championship-winning side has admitted that he’s ‘truly gutted’ to become a free agent this summer and is adamant that he still has more to give the game in the future.

Striker Sam Vokes was among six senior players to discover he had been released by Wycombe Wanderers in their latest retain list after the side’s efforts to win promotion to the Championship ended in disappointment after a 1-0 play-off semi-final defeat to Charlton Athletic across two legs. Wycombe competed for automatic promotion for most of the season and spent large chunks of the campaign as Birmingham City’s nearest competitors in second position.

However, a dip in form towards the end of the campaign saw Wrexham leapfrog them in the automatic hunt to gain their third consecutive promotion before Stockport County and Charlton Athletic also climbed above them to finish in third and fourth place respectively.

Wycombe have been in League One for four seasons since suffering relegation from the Championship and have had Vokes leading the line throughout that whole time-frame.

Sam Vokes opens up about Wycombe Wanderers departure

Former Wales international Sam Vokes scored 28 goals in his 125 League One appearances for the club after joining from Stoke City in 2021. His most notable campaign came in his first season when he scored 16 in 43 matches to help The Blues to a sixth place finish and a play-off final before falling short against Sunderland in May 2022.

Vokes had also played a role behind the scenes in the coaching team due to his immense experience in the game which has seen him reach a European Championship semi-final and win 64 caps for his country.

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"After finding out this morning I'll be leaving this special club after four years, I can only say I'm truly gutted,” said Vokes, via BBC Sport.

"I'd always heard about the great culture and good people at the club, so to be brought in by [former manager] Gareth Ainsworth to be part of that group and getting to know the players and staff has been an absolute pleasure. When I joined Wycombe, I was desperate for success and to be part of something special. While we've come very close a few times, it's been amazing to create and be part of some truly special moments."

A statement from Wycombe chief football officer Dan Rice added: “Sam has been a wonderful ambassador for the club in many ways and his experience and character off the pitch have been hugely instrumental, even though his playing time has become limited.”

What next for Sam Vokes?

Ex-Wolves forward Sam Vokes has racked up 651 appearances at club level while playing for the likes of Bournemouth, Leeds United, Bristol City, Sheffield United, Norwich City, Brighton, Burnley, Stoke City and most recently Wycombe.

A knee injury and a recent broken arm hampered his progress this term and restricted him to just seven appearances - with his most recent coming on the final day of the season against Stockport in a 3-1 loss. In an open letter written to Wycombe fans, Vokes said he had "more to offer on the pitch" but did not give any hints as to his future plans.

His availability and experience could potentially make him a feasible target for clubs in League One and League Two this summer. While there’s also the possibility he’ll enter the world of coaching in the not too distant future after working under interim manager Sam Grace and then Mike Dodds during the season.

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